Soundcore C50i Open-Ear Clip-On Earbuds

I have 2 sets

I love clip-on style open earbuds! The Anker soundcore C50i fits snug and is comfortable enough to wear in some sleeping positions. I use these at the gym and love how well they stay on my ears. Sometimes I'll be wearing them and media will stop playing...I'll completely forget I was wearing them. If that isn't a testament to comfort...

The awareness gains from this kind of style is bar none. It's as if you have your own background music...Kind of neat. You can hear everything and everyone around you as though you don't have anything in your ears (since they sit just outside of your ear canal). I can't recommend these enough. Easy to put on, take off, and the soundcore app isn't awful to deal with. My only gripe is you really need to make sure that the charging pins make contact each time you put these back in the case.

I'm no audiophile but these don't sound bad. Maybe slightly on the tinny side. Occasionally sound can cut out briefly on either bud but it regains connection quickly. It rarely happens but I can understand frustrations with that.

I have tried calls with these and I have had to disconnect from the C50i earbuds in moderately noisy environments (climbing gym lobby, coffee shop, yes I am that Bluetooth calling butt wipe). So while they work, in some situations they can't cut out enough background noise to pick up your voice clearly. I am very interested in the Aero Clip 2 for the call quality claims...

I tried moving away from the C50i and bought the Baseus Bowie MC2 since it was recently on sale. The MC2s sounded better to me but again, I'm not an audiophile (my rhythm sucks too if that is anything). For whatever reason, I couldn't get the MC2s to fit well in comparison to the C50i. If I shook my head at all with the Bowie's, they would fall off. That simply doesn't happen with the C50i! So in the end I had to return the Baseus MC2s even though they were highly reviewed.

Overall I am very impressed by the C50i open earbuds. So much so that I have 2 pairs that I interchange when one set needs to charge...LOL.

I will stick with the C50i until I can afford a more expensive open earbud like the Shoks Open Dot 2 or Anker's Aero Clip 2

Great for awareness, not so much for sports.

Sound quality is what you expect from a pair of headphones at this price point. While they can get pretty loud, with the open ear design, the sound signature is pretty flat. I think these are the perfect headphones for walking in an airport, or busy city where you want to be aware of your surroundings.

Where they lose points, after having them for a few months, the internal spring is not as tight and the more I sweat, the more the slippery buggers start to slide. When running the change of them falling out increases.

They either need to sit tighter in the ear, or have some level of grip to reduce sliding when worn for vigorous activities like running.

Lasted all of 5 weeks. Literally build to just live past the return window.

It's amazing how companies can the right thing 100 times then decide to eff it up out of the blue. These headphones would randomly refuse to connect when taken out of the charging case, and refuse to disconnect when placed back in. And now one of the charging pins collapsed. All of this in 5 weeks of use

Way to go in enshittifying your own products to make cents in profit.

Great comfort and sound quality. Waiting for warranty claim, due to broken case not charging.

Loved them until the case broke, and stopped charging. All day comfort, great sound quality, and great battery life. I can wear them while doing yard work all day on a weekend.

Problem: one of the contacts is broken, and doesn't charge the headphone. I'm waiting on the warranty claim to get back to me.

kevin shaw

September 18, 2026

Not better than the predecessor

I really like the Soundcore C50i in terms of comfort and feel. They fit well and are comfortable to wear for long periods. Unfortunately, the battery life has been disappointing.

I started using the C50i at 5:30 AM, and they were completely dead by 12:38 PM; just over 7 hours of use. For comparison, I can start using my Soundcore C30i at the same 5:30 AM start time, and they will last until around 3:30 PM without dying.

I prefer the feel of the C50i, but the significantly shorter battery life is a major downside for me. If Soundcore could give the C50i battery performance closer to the C30i, they would be a much better pair of earbuds for all-day use.

Item is basically a brick

I processed a return to get another pair because the first pair stopped working after a week - disconnecting and reconnecting over and over.

Received the second pair and they are doing the same thing as the previous pair.

I wanted to think it is the phone update but my family members have different brands of open ear earbuds that are Bluetooth and the same phones with the same updates having been done and their earbuds are still functioning properly.

I so desperately wanted these to work because I usually like soundcore headphones but I am unable to even use the product so I am at a loss.

1:15

Disposable

Works great for a month but after that they stop charging and randomly connect to other Bluetooth devices when trying to use them. Of course they make it impossible to return or exchange after a month. Obviously some planned obsolescence. Waste of money. Also seems to give me headaches when used for extended periods.

0:26

Finally a new daily earbud for me. Great sound, great comfort. Needs some additional style!

I recently tried two alternatives to this. First a cheaper pair in this same clip-on style, by Talix. Also the ear-hook style V40i by Soundcore. The Talix open earbuds sold me on this clip-on style being comfortable. But the audio was definitely thin and distant, and max volume was ok but not great. The Soundcore V40i showed me that an open ear bud can still have great audio and volume, but in just 1 hour walking sessions I could feel that the ear hook caused some discomfort. I LOVE the design of the v40i, that's the main reason I bought them, that round open charging case with the cool LED light, one of the best looking products I've seen in a long time. But I know they will just sit around if I don't think they are comfortable to wear.

So I took this information, that I enjoy wearing the clip-on style, and that Soundcore audio quality is still great even on open earbuds, and I knew I should look for a clip-on style from Soundcore that would be better than the Talix. Thankfully these C50i went on sale at the perfect time to make the price more appealing.

And I got what I was looking for. These are still a comfortable clip-on style that did not cause any discomfort after an hour, and the audio quality and maximum volume is way better. The Talix was ok for podcasts but pretty bad for music. These Soundcore can handle podcasts and all my music and full quality, doesn't sound thin. Soundcore app support for additional EQ etc.

If I could subtract half a star I would, just to say, I really wish these C50i could have an awesome design like they did for the V40i! These are pretty uninspired: black buds, black case, tiny little charging LED, and as a matter of fact the charging case feels pretty darn light to me like it's cheap plastic and must not be packing much battery. If these more comfortable C50i could have a cool futuristic design like the ear-hook buds do, it would be the best of both worlds. Even previous versions of this "C" product line had some cool transparent plastic versions like the 90s electronics we remember, a style that I probably would have purchased for myself, but for the C50i Soundcore went back to their traditional choices of Black, White, or Purple. The V40i looks so cool... I wish they were comfortable, and I wish the C50i had a cool design. Now that I mentioned the quality of the C50i charging case, yeah, I don't know what's going on there. It is extremely light weight. My old pair of Soundcore buds weighs way more, the V40i are way heftier. I guess the case only adds 20 hours to the 8 hours of the buds for 28 total. Maybe I will actually drop 1 star on my rating, this charging case is not impressive!

My previous buds for probably 5+ years now are Soundcore Spirit Dot 2. I never really liked regular earbuds, I always wanted the extra little rubber wing to hold the buds in your ear, which the Spirit Dot 2 has, and they always fit great and delivered good audio. I used to just wear 1 bud on walks so I could have an open ear to hear around me. But with the C50i, I can have stereo audio and still be able to hear my surroundings. I tried a handful of earbuds over the years trying to see if anything could convince me to move on from the Spirit Dot 2, and nothing ever worked for me. I think the C50i will finally be my new full-time earbud. I will probably still use the Spirit Dot 2 for lawn mowing when I actually want the sound isolation.

3 months of comfortable stereo sound

Update: back with actual numbers the day after I wrote the review below. I’ve had these earbuds, exactly 4 days shy of 3 months. . Three photos attached. Fully charged both earbuds over night after the right had completely died. Right bud started at 80% at 7:57am and fully dead 8:35am.

I’ve had these for 3 months now and the right earbud battery drains so fast compared to the left that I’m mostly just using the left while constantly charging the right.

For example, my left earbud shows 90% and my right already died so it’s charging right now. Definitely frustrating. This must be one of the differences between a reputable company and one that’s new to the game.

Ms K. Reynolds

July 26, 2026

Nice but don't hold charge

Got these ear buds on June 25 2026 its July 26 2026 right after the return window and they are not charging. I have left them charging over night from 6pm till 8am and they have 10%. The idea of them are nice but they don't last long or maybe I got a bad pair....

No more sweaty ears!

Wish I would have known about these sooner! The sound quality is decent for speakers that aren’t actually in your ear, they stay in place while walking and running and are very comfortable. I needed headphones that wouldn’t keep my ears sweaty and these are the solution! I have another pair of soundcore headphones but they are over the ear and also have amazing sound quality so I went with the same brand.

The color is pretty as well. I can use them for 45 mins and the charge stays at 100% I’ve had them a few weeks and only charged the case once. Overall very great value!

Good ear buds! No battery indicator.

Good ear buds. I just wish they had a battery indicator. I’m using them with my iPhone.

Decent

Its decent but the buds are loose if you have small ear lobes. The sound is not as clear as I thought it would be for this brand and price.

Goose

July 1, 2026

Wimpy Case

The earbuds were great. I liked how they fit around the earlobe. The only thing was the case was too flimsy. I constantly found the case open and just yesterday both fell out somewhere and I lost them. I still have the case because it was on my key ring. Anyway, the price was worth it, but not for easily losing. I’m going to look into earbuds that have a better and stronger case that doesn’t easily open.

THEY ATE W THEESE

when I tell you, I have tried so many different types of earbuds. I originally bought these off branded bose ones they claimed to be bose, but they speak Korean instead of English lol and when I tell you, the sound of those was way better than the actual bose i mean it I got an actual pair because these ones are starting to get a little finicky two years later and the Bose one sounded so muffled, and I tried every different mode and none of them make the sound is clear and also for me I am looking for an open earbud that is not noise canceling I need to be able to hear what’s going on when I’m at work or as I go for my daily walks so those things were pretty important to me. And when I tell you these earbuds are so amazing every time I get a pair of one of these because I’ve tried so many at this point I try four different songs that all really test how clear the audio is gonna sound because every single earbud that’s not that good as sound quality seems to really struggle with the song mystical magical so that’s the song that I use to test them so i did and these earbuds are so great, they are a little more firm and bulky in the back that I am used to, but they’re still very comfortable and they are very secure on my ears. I haven’t had any problems with them, the audio is great or comfortable, the only thing I could say is I wish they were a less noise canceling if you turn the volume all the way up, they aren’t noise canceling, but they are damn near and usually on my walks. I only put one in anyways, and even when the volume is low, they sound great, which is another thing I was worried about. They were very easy to use, but they are a little different so you have to put them in your ear and hold the button for three seconds before it allows you to connect to Bluetooth but let me tell you these are more than worth the money they are so cheap for the quality they offer and to think Bose sells theirs for almost $300 and these are way better is crazy to me I am also writing this using the text to speech as I have the earbuds in and it is understanding me perfectly. My mom also said that the audio for the phone call sounds very clear. so get u a pair of theese fr they’re great

The best affordable earplugs !

I love these earbuds. They are perfect quality and they stay in your ear.

How can I resolve this issue?

I purchased two units of this product, and one arrived defective; the microphone doesn't work during calls. I bought them in the United States but brought them to Brazil. How can I resolve this issue?

Pleasantly surprised!

These are amazing and I can barely feel them when wearing them. Good sound for podcasts, phone calls, and music. Obviously they won’t compare to the sound of over the ear headphones for music.

They don’t announce text messages or anything like that, but you still get sound alerts as usual.

Battery life is good too.

I am pleasantly surprised.

Great sound for the money

They sound great for something that's not stuffed down your ear canal. They are super easy to use and so comfortable, you don't even know they're there. The only negative is that I like a bit more base and these have a decent amount but not what I'm used to. But for the price, they are a great buy!

Carlos Gonzalez

April 12, 2026

Bastante bien para su precio

Cómodos y suenan bien. Salsa y música clásica se escuchan todos los instrumentos, reggaeton, hip hop suena duro

Decent Upgrade From C30i

Great sound, but I wish the battery life was better. These fit great, and are light. Don't hurt my ears at all.

La duración

Excelente

Excelente, se escucha muy bien, las baterías duran mucho, practico los audífonos no se caen

0:02

Manuel

January 8, 2026

Me encantó

Ya lo estuve ocupando durante dos semanas pues pues no está nada mal no se siente si llevas en el oído no se mueve para nada

El tema del sonido pues yo siento que esto está mejor que la soundcore aerofit 2

Este tiene mejores bajos y se siente más nítido

El único que no me gustó son los micrófonos para acer llamadas en lugares ruidosos se pierde mucho la voz ese es único que no me gustó

Perfect for listening while staying aware - Wife loves the open-ear design

My wife wanted a set of headphones that would allow her to listen to her audiobooks and podcasts while still being able to hear things going on around her. These C50i open-ear headphones are perfect for her. The FlexiClip design makes them comfortable and secure when she is working around the house or taking long walks. The open design means she is always aware of the kids, the doorbell, or traffic, which is a big safety improvement over traditional earbuds. Setup was quick, pairing easily with her phone using the Bluetooth connection.

The sound quality is surprisingly clear. The 28-hour playtime is excellent, meaning she rarely has to worry about charging them, and the AI Clear Calls work well when she takes a quick call without having to stop what she is doing. All in all, this is a great solution for anyone who needs to enjoy media while still maintaining full awareness of their surroundings. Good value headphones for a specific but important use.

Very good sound quality. Has very good bass and tremble balance.

Very good sound quality. Has very good bass and tremble balance. Connects via Bluethooth to your phone instantly every time you take it out of its charging case.

Has nice loud volume. Its comfortable to wear and doesn't fall off. Only you can hear the sound and people around you cannot hear it coming out of the speakers.

This issue I notice is the Bluethooth. It ONLY work within LINE OF SIGHT.

Basically I was washing my car and my phone is 15 feet away. As soon as I try to wash the tires and bend down, it starts to loose sound connection as the body of the car is blocking its line of sight to my phone.

Easy to use and very comfortable!

I ordered these Soundcore earbuds because I used to have a previous pair that always malfunctioned, and I eventually got tired of dealing with it. But after a while, I realized how practical earbuds are — I really missed having them!

When I came across these, I was drawn to the reasonable price and the design. I like that they don’t go directly inside your ear canal, so it doesn’t feel like something is lodged too close to my brain all the time. The wrap-around style feels secure and comfortable, even after long use.

When I received them, they were already charged, which was such a nice surprise — I was able to use them right away. They connect to my phone instantly the moment I take them out of the case, and the range is impressive. I can leave my phone in the kitchen and walk to the other side of the house (around 40 feet away) before the connection starts to drop.

The sound quality is really good, and so far everything has been working great. I’m hopeful they’ll hold up well over time. Overall, I think this was a great buy — I just need to make sure I don’t lose them!

Tee Bird

November 3, 2025

Good sound, fit issues

First of, Soundcore makes good products that are reasonably priced. These are no different. They come is a nice charging case. The also output great sound, considering these are open ear headphones. Highs are really clear and distortion free and there's also a pleasant hint of bass as well. The open ear design allows you to remain fully aware of your surroundings.

The only issue I have is the fit. I have fairly large ears and I could not find a way to wear these comfortably. If you have average or smaller ears, they will probably fit just fine. That is basically my only gripe with these.

Gunnar

October 30, 2025

Disappointing Quality

I was really excited to try out these open ear earphones by Anker as their brand is known for a really high-quality product with a good value for the money. However I was immediately disappointed in how poor quality these earphones are. The earphones themselves have a nice metal casing so it looks and feels like good quality however the charging/storage case that they come in is plastic and very bulky. In the instructions there is an QR code to scan to download the app and get it set up through Bluetooth which was easy but as soon as I started listening to music I could immediately tell that these were awful quality earphones. Even at max volume it’s nowhere near as loud as normal earphones can get and the sound quality in general is very poor. I played around in the EQ settings of the app as well as in Spotify to see if I could improve it at all and unfortunately I could not. These also did not feel very comfortable being on my ears after a couple of minutes of wearing them. I did like that the app showed you tutorials and how two videos to make sure you were properly wearing them and adjusting them which I followed but overall I think that these have a very poor quality and a bad value for the money and I would not recommend them.

Andrew Beesley

October 30, 2025

I’m Shocked (And Later Disappointed)

EDIT 5/16/26: The audio sync and disconnection issues have gotten worse. Using these at work has been a much worse experience disconnecting and reconnecting at random about twice during my shifts. At home they’ve gotten even worse as well. Being paired to two playback devices at once - which is a feature - means constant desync between audio and video as well as occasional disconnects. These are unfortunately hard to recommend because of these ongoing and increasing issues.

As a lover of mid-tier IEMs ($80-120) I was prepared to have a poor audio experience with these. The Soundcore C50i has pleasantly surprised me even though it does have a few flaws and I have nitpicks.

Let’s start with sound quality. I find these to be very pleasant out of the box but they didn’t blow me away. They are a little bit bass heavy and warm to my ears, but I’m sure a lot of people won’t mind that. As a more detail-oriented listener, I downloaded the Soundcore app to make EQ adjustments. The default sound profile options didn’t really fit my liking, as they continued to overcook the sound just in different ways. A simple EQ adjustment (which I will have pictures of attached to this) allowed me to customize and tune these to have a bit more detail. I primarily focused on brining vocals and guitars a bit more forward, toning down the overpowering bass, and getting a bit more detail in high hats and brushes. Bringing this detail out made the headphones feel a bit wider in terms of soundstage. That being said… it’s not particularly wide. Front and back separation, yes, but not full 360° instrument separation. It also showed that these 12mm dynamic drivers can’t push quite enough detail in the high end. Most people won’t notice, but on songs I’m very familiar with it seems lacking. They feel a bit compressed and crunchy.

Another audio option these have is, of course, the built in microphone. While touting “AI” enhancements… it’s just a Bluetooth mic. Nothing to write home about and a wired mic will almost always sound better.

As for design and comfort, these are extremely sleek. The case is fairly average for TWS earbuds - bigger than AirPods 4 but much smaller than my more “audiophile” modular adapters. The magnets in the case are also extremely strong. They grab the buds so hard that I can hold everything up by one of the headphones IN the case. Should be great for keeping the charging pins aligned.

For the headphones themselves, I feel like the speaker grill could be a little wider to be more compatible for a variety of ear shapes. It can be a bit difficult to get them close enough for real focused listening. When I do get it aligned however, these are very comfortable. It does take some time to get used to, and the pinch can be overwhelming when lying down. Sitting up and moving has been great though! No issues with them falling off - even at work. A great part about the clip design is being able to slide them further away from the ear canal in order to hear more of the world around you. That was really cool to experience. The physical buttons are also fantastic for controls. By default it lacks a way to activate Siri/your voice assistant. With the Soundcore app you can easily add a triple click that can activate Siri - I would recommend doing that.

I have also had a few strange instances of temporarily losing Bluetooth connection to my phone at a fairly close distance. After about 25ft inside my house, they can be a little spotty. Which is unfortunate since they advertise Bluetooth 6. I’ve also had some desync with video over time. A quick pop in the case and then taking them back out seems to solve it. These issues can potentially be fixed with firmware updates through the app.

TL;DR & Conclusion: SEE EDIT AT TOP. Original conclusion: They sound good out of the box but need a bit of tuning for detail and soundstage using the Soundcore app. Pretty good battery life but I wish it was better. Easy recommend for people who want a semi-open air experience. As always, a wired IEM would be better if you solely want audio quality in a small package.